She flew at me, her gnarled hands tangling in my hair.
“Son of a bitch! What are you, a thirteen-year-old girl?” I cried and twisted hard, cursing as she ripped away tufts of my hair. “For fuck’s sake. Now I’m going to have to get my hair done.”
Morena was not amused. The sorceress waved a hand and sent the recliner right at my head. I ducked just in time to keep it from knocking me out. I flattened myself to the floor, rolled twice, and scrambled to my feet, ready to fight, but as soon as I did, my eyes nearly bugged out of my head.
Bandu was standing in the middle of the room, holding the golden stake in one hand and a gold ring in the other. Anguished cries ripped from his throat as he held both in the air and shook his fists at the sky as if he was damning the powers that be.
Morena’s eyes widened and filled with tears. Forgetting us, she flew to him and wrapped him in her arms, apologizing over and over and over again, telling him they’d be okay. If they stuck together, they’d find a way to honor Carter, to learn to love again.
Bandu stiffened, then pushed her away and shook his head violently. “He was the only man I ever loved. The only one I wanted to love. I’ve loved him for four centuries and these are the only things left of him.” Bandu shouted angrily at Morena and thrust the ring her face. “Do you see this? The ring I gave him four hundred years ago. One of the cursed rings you sold us. The ones that bound us to you for forever. Now he’s gone. And I can’t even take mine off. You still own me, you wretched, horrible piece of evil!”
He dropped his head, his sobs wracking his body. Morena moved in again, trying to soothe him, but the moment her arms came around him, he jerked his arm up and the golden stake he still had in his hand went right through her heart.
She let out a startled gasp and whispered, “What did you do?”
Before he could answer, the light rippled beneath both of their skins, brightened, then exploded in a brilliant ray of light, ten times brighter than when Imogen and I had destroyed her demons.
I threw my arm over my eyes and jerked back, my ears ringing from the massive blast. For a moment, everything was silent. A reprieve from the chaos of the past few hours. But then everyone started to chatter, and strong arms engulfed me from behind.
“Dax,” I said, resting my head against his strong chest.
“It took you guys long enough,” he whispered in my ear.
I smiled, knowing he wasn’t kidding. He’d known all along we’d show up, but no one could’ve predicted what happened with Bandu. I couldn’t say I was surprised really. It was clear he hated what he’d become, and without Carter, he’d had no reason to keep living a tortured life.
“Phoebs!” Willow called from across the room. I glanced at the cell to find Allcot already picking the lock and grinned at her.
“Ready to go home?” I asked.
“Only once we find Talisen.” Her voice cracked as much from worry as it did from fatigue. Her eyes were full of concern, and it was obvious she hadn’t slept since she’d been abducted.
“Son of a… Dammit. I’ll find him. Any ideas where to start?”
She pointed to a door on the other side of the room. “Try there.”
“On it.” I slipped away from Dax and moved to the door. Locked. It was annoying but not an issue. I dug into my pocket and pulled out my own set of picks. In less than ten seconds I had the door open and strode into the dark room. After running my hand over the wall, I finally found the light switch and flicked it on.
It took a moment for my vision to adjust, and when it did, I just stood there, frozen. Two cells were side by side. One held Talisen, and the other…
“Seth!” I screamed and ran over to the cell.
He sat straight up and blinked, much like I’d done just a moment ago. And when recognition dawned, a huge grin spread over his stubbled face. “Hey, sis. Long time no see.”
26
It’d been exactly three hours and forty-two minutes since I’d first spotted Seth sitting in that cell next to Talisen. In that time, I’d gotten exactly zero information from him on where he’d been the past eight years.
I sat at the kitchen table in the house I shared with Willow and Talisen, Dax on my right, Seth on my left. Willow and Talisen were across from us and Link was in shih tzu form on Willow’s lap.
After Allcot had freed Willow from her cell and Talisen and Seth and I had joined everyone outside, Allcot had invited us all back to his mansion for brunch and some serious R and R. Imogen had taken him up on the offer, but the rest of us had declined. Willow needed to be in her space and, more importantly, sleep in her own bed with her husband. I, of course, hadn’t any interest in staying at Allcot’s house, though my opinion of him had softened some. And I just downright liked Pandora. She was a vampire with some serious sass and gumption. Definitely my kind of woman.
I took one look at Dax and practically ordered him to come home with me. After forty some odd hours of nonstop turmoil, I was ready to give in and take some comfort. I didn’t know what that said about our relationship, but I knew he was the only one I wanted in my bed… whether the director liked it or not.
And that had left Leo the odd man out. He’d been living at the pack compound, but after everything he’d learned and done over the past few days, it was not a good idea to head back there, so Dax had thrust his keys at him and told him to stay at his apartment. He’d told him he could stay as long as he wanted because Dax was going to be with me. And that was cool… for now. We’d see.
“Anyone want more bacon?” Dax asked.
I raised my hand, feeling as if I was never going to get full again. Had I eaten at all? I couldn’t remember.
Seth laughed. “For such a small girl, you were always one that could pack the food away.”
I scoffed. “With you in the house, it was just self-preservation. Any food that was put on the table was gone within minutes.”
“Fair enough.” He winked at me and pushed his chair back as he stood. “Thanks for breakfast, Talisen. It was delicious. Best meal I’ve had in years.”
Talisen raised one eyebrow. “You’re welcome, but I’m questioning your meal choices since all I made was scrambled eggs and bacon.”
Seth laughed. “I’ve been… out of pocket.”
“I guess so.” Talisen stood and snagged Seth’s empty plate. He glanced at me. “Looks like we need to take your brother on a restaurant tour while he’s in town.”
“Sure,” I said. “Just as soon as we find out how long he’ll be here.”
“Not long. I don’t want to impose,” Seth said.
“It’s no imposition,” Willow, Tal, and I said at the same time, then laughed. “Really,” I finished “We don’t have an extra room, but the couch is yours for as long as you want it.”
“I appreciate that.” He bowed his head in thanks and snagged the mug off the table. “I’m just going to grab a refill, then get that shower I’ve been dreaming about.”
“You can use my bathroom,” I called after him. “First bedroom on the right at the bottom of the stairs.
“Got it.” He waved and disappeared down to the first floor.
I let out a slightly frustrated breath and glanced around, so grateful to have my chosen family back home safe and sound. I eyed Willow and Talisen. “You guys doing okay? Anything you need?”
“Just sleep,” Willow said with a yawn.
“Okay, well—”
Willow put her hand up, stopping me. “Enough, Phoebs. We appreciate your taking care of us. And damn, everything you did over the past few days. You know I never doubted for a second you’d find us.”
“That’s because she’s the best damned tracker at the Void,” Dax said, covering my hand with his.
“Damn straight,” I agreed with a grin. “Though I might’ve had a little help.”
“Just a little,” he said, grinning.
“Well,” Willow said, humor in her tone. “Aren’t you two cute. Is this a revival of that great affair y’all had a few months ago?”